The perceptions and attitudes of boys and girls towards schoolgirl pregnancy at 'Mampota High School in Berea, Lesotho.

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Abstract

This study explores perceptions and attitudes of boys and girls towards schoolgirl
pregnancy at 'Mampota high School in Lesotho. No policy exists in Lesotho concerning
school girl pregnancy. While Lesotho espouses democratic rights to all, pregnant
schoolgirls continue to be excluded from the school system. In this era this does not only
discriminate but also impinges on one of the fundamental rights of girls, the right to
education. Pregnant girls continue to drop out of school because of the negative
perceptions and attitudes of teachers and other students even in countries where expulsion
is outlawed. Although these attitudes reflect myths and stereotypes, they are not illusions.
They remain powerful and are a major driving force behind pregnant girls dropouts. They
reinforce the stereotypical construction of gender and work to marginalise and
disempower young girls. These perceptions and attitudes sentence girls to a life of
subservience and reduce their life chances both economically and socially.
Focus group interviews and questionnaires were used examine the attitudes of boys and
girls towards schoolgirl pregnancy at MHS. The findings suggest that both boys and girls
construct gender in ways that discriminate against pregnant schoolgirls, but girls as more
prejudiced than boys towards pregnant schoolgirls. A good sign emerging from the study
is that not all boys and girls take this position and this points to the possibility of making
the school a safer place for pregnant school girls.